Automobile repair tool



March 8, 1949.

G. A. COUNTRYMAN Filed Nov. 15, 1946 all 9114. C0 zzzzi'rym an GttornegsPatented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES ?ATNT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE REPAIR TOOLGuy A. Countryman, Ashland, Ohio Application November 15, 1946, SerialNo. 710,114

4 Claims.

The invention relates to tools adapted to be used in combination with apressure device, such as a jack for straightening and bending sheetmetal members such as automobile bodies, fenders,

doors, hoods and the like.

It is present practice, in the repairing of automobile bodies, fendersand the like, to provide body tools comprising a pressure applying strutmember adapted to be operatively connected to a pressure producingdevice, such as a hydraulic jack, screw jack or the like, and having atool in the form of a pressure head detachably connected to the end ofthe strut member for contacting a portion of the automobile body, fenderor the like to straighten or bend the same.

It is sometimes necessary in the operation of such tools to apply thepressure of the head directly against a painted or finished surfacewhich may be marred or scratched thereby.

The object of the present invention is to provide such a body toolhaving a pressure applying head covered with a suitable soft, flexiblematerial, such as rubber, to prevent marring the finish of theautomobile body or other sheet metal member against which it is applied.

Another object is to provide a tool of this character having a convex,substantially semispherical pressure head entirely covered with a softresilient pad of rubber or the like.

A further object is to provide a pressure applying head of thischaracter in which a peripheral flange or shoulder is formed at theinner side of the metal head and the peripheral portem of the rubber pador cover is provided with an annular rib or channel adapted to fit overthe same.

A still further object is to provide a pressure applying head of thischaracter which may be in the form of a hollow metal casting having aninternally screw threaded neck for detachable connection to a pressureapplying strut, the head portion proper being convex and substantiallysemi-spherical and covered with a resilient pad of rubber or the like.

Another object is to provide a hollow, substantially semi-sphericalrubber pad or cover for the pressure applying head having means thereonfor detachably mounting it upon the metallic head.

A further object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and durablepressure head of the character referred to, Which is elficient in useand which will not mar or scratch surfaces against which it is applied.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from thedrawing and following description, or which may be later referred to,may be constructed in the manner hereinafter described in detail andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hydraulic jack showing oppositelydisposed tubular pressure applying struts connected to the base and theram thereof and having a pressure applying head embodying the inventiondetachably connected to the outer end of each strut;

Fig. 2 a longitudinal, sectional view through a pressure applying headembodying the invention;

Fig. 3 a bottom plan View of the head shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 a 1ongitudina1 sectional view through a modified form of thepressure applying head; and

Fig. 5 a bottom plan view of the head shown in Fig. 4.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawing, two of the improved pressureapplying heads to which the invention pertains are indicated at Ill andI I, detachably connected to opposite ends of the tubular pressureapplying struts l2 and I3 respectively, which are shown detachablyconnected to the base Hi and ram [5 of a hydraulic jack respectively,the cylinder of the jack being indicated at It and is arranged to beoperated as by the pump I! manually operated by the hand lever 18.

In the operation of this assembly the pressure applying heads It and IIare placed against opposed portions of the automobile body, or otherstructure, to be straightened and by manual operation of the pump [l bythe handle [8 thereof, the hydraulic jack is operated to move the ram l5thereof outwardly forcing the pressure applying struts i2 and E3 inopposite directions and applying pressure against the objective portionsof the automobile body through the pressure applying heads it and II.

Referring next to the pressure applying head shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thehead may be in the form of a hollow casting is, of steel or othersuitable material of sufiicient strength. The head comprises the convex,substantially semi-circular pressure applying head portion 20 having theannular rim shoulder or bead 2| around its periphery and terminating inthe reduced, inwardly disposed tubular neck 22, internally threaded asat 23 for detachable connection to the threaded outer ends 24 of eitherof the tubular pressure applying struts IL. or l3.

For the purpose of protecting a painted or finished surface ofautomobile bodies, fenders or the like, against which the pressureapplying head may be applied, a soft resilient pad 25 of rubber or thelike, entirely covers the convex surface 26 of the head, beingpreferably thicker at its central portion, as indicated at 27 andterminating in the inturned annular channel or rib 28 adapted to behooked over the rim shoulder or bead 2! of the metal head so as tosnugly hold the rubber pad upon the metal head.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown a slightly modified form of pressure applyinghead, this form being especially applicable to heads of smallerdiameters. In this case the head lfia is also in the form of a hollowmetal casting having the substantially semi-spherical head portionproper 20a with convex surface 26a terminating in the an.- nularshoulder 21a, and provided with the inwardly disposed tubular neck 22aprovided with the internal screw threads 23a.

The rubber pad 25a is of hollow, substantially semi-spherical form, so;as to fit snugly upon the convex surface 26a of. the metal head, and ispreferably thicker at its central portion, as indicated at 21a, andterminates in the annular inturned member 28a for engagement over theannular shoulder 2Ia of the metal head.

From the above it will be obvious that a simple and efficient pressureapplying head is provided, having a substantially semi-spherical surfacefor contact with an automabile body or other sheet metal part to bestraightened or bent so as not to form any sharp ridge or cut thereinand provided witha, removable pad of rubber, or other suitable softresilient material, for applying pressure against painted or finishedsurfaces so as not to scratch or mar the same.

I claim:

1.. Apparatus for bending and straightening sheet meta1 members,comprising a pressure applying strut, a pressure applying head connectedto the outer end of the strut, said head having a-convex forward outersurface and an aim rearwardly disposed shoulder and a forwardly disposedannular channel atthe inner side thereof, andv a. substantiallysemi-spherical hollow rubber covering fitting entirely over the convexouter surface of the head and having an inturned annular channel at itsinner side fitting snugly over the annular shoulder on the head andterminating in a forwardly disposed bead extending into the. forwardlydisposed. annular channel in the 3- detachably connected to said screwthreads on the strut and having a convex forward outer surface and anannular rearwardly disposed shoulder and a forwardly disposed annularchannel at the inner side thereof, and a substantially semi-spherical,hollow rubber covering fitting entirely over the convex outer surface ofthe head and having an inturned annular channel at its inner sidefitting snugly over the annular shoulder on the head and terminating ina forwardly disposed bead extending into the forwardly disposed annularchannel in the head.

3. Apparatus for bending and straightening sheet metal members,comprising a pressure applying strut, a pressure applying head connectedto the outer end of the strut, said head having a convex forward outersurface and an annular rearwardly disposed rib and a forwardly disposedannular channel at the inner side thereof, and a substantiallysemi-spherical, hollow rubber covering fitting entirely over the convexouter surface of the head and having an inturned annular channel at itsinner side fitting snugly over the annular rib on the head andterminating in a forwardly disposed bead extending into theforwardly'disposed annular channel in the head.

4. Apparatus for bending and straightening sheet metal members,comprising a pressure applying strut having screw threads at its outerend, a pressure applying head having a threaded neck detachablyconnected to said screw threads on the strut and having a convex forwardouter surface and an annular rearwardly disposed rib and a forwardlydisposed annular channel at the inner side thereof, and a substantiallysemispherical, hollow rubber covering fitting entirely over the convexouter surface of the head and having an inturned annular channel at itsinner side fitting snugly over the annular rib on the head andterminating in a forwardly disposed bead extending into the forwardlydisposed annular channel in the head.

GUY A. COUN'IRYMAN.

Number Name 887,663 Lee May 12, 1908 2,093,284 Mandl Sept. 14, 19372,103,095 Schermerhorn Dec. 21, 1937 2,200,133 Mandl May 7, 1940

